The federal government mandates that all states have a mental health services planning and advisory council. The Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council fulfills that mandate for Kansas. The Council is made up of a cross section of mental health consumers, family members of mental health consumers, mental health service providers, state agency staff, and private citizens. The Council is actively involved in planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and advising state government regarding Kansas’ mental health services. The information linked here further describes the role of the Council and its subcommittees.
Dates for upcoming Council meetings can be found on the
Events calendar.
The Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council will partner to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services to ensure Kansans with behavioral health needs live safe, healthy, successful, and self-determined lives in their communities.
Prevention, treatment, and recovery services:
- Allow people to direct their care and treatment;
- Are respectful and empowering;
- Are effective and influenced by evidence-based practices that lead to a personal process of recovery and resilience; and
- Are integrated, flexible, and accessible.
The membership of the Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council consists of adult consumers with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI), youth consumers with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), family members of mental health consumers, mental health service providers, state agency staff, and private citizens. Federal law 102-321 describes the mandatory composition of the Council and requires that 51 percent of the members must be "other than providers" (i.e., 51 percent of the members are consumers or family members of consumers).
Each of the Council's Subcommittees includes at least one member of the council and various other interested stakeholders, including consumers and family members. Behavioral Health Services staff serve as liaisons and support to the subcommittees.
The Subcommittees generate recommendations for the Council, the Secretary of KDADS, and the Governor regarding the Mental Health System of Kansas. Once a year, they report these recommendations to the Council body, as well as the Secretaries of relevant state agencies.